An Entertaining Log: Every Hostess Needs One!

Something I've discovered about myself over the years is that I really enjoy entertaining.  While we don't tend to host big, fancy soirées, we love to have friends over to play, to eat, to laugh.  I'd like to eventually become that graceful hostess who makes entertaining a crowd look effortless.  In the meantime, I make use of my entertaining log to help things run a bit smoother.

Meet my Entertaining log.  It's a pretty humble affair -- just a paperback notebook filled with lined paper.  In it, I record what dishes I serve others, when I serve them, and how they liked them. 

Here are a few excerpts:

5/1/10  Sisters In Christ Mother/Daughter Brunch

Spinach Quiche -- Eaten up :)

Frozen Morning Delights -- too hard for plastic forks

Banana Nut Muffins -- not eaten

Berry Punch -- a big hit

Decked Out Water -- no one tried it

or this . . .

6/12/10  The Insells

Cucumber Dill Turkey Sandwiches -- eaten up, but Chris doesn't usually like mayo and Angie doesn't like cukes

Salami Mozzarella Pasta Salad -- eaten up

Fruit Cups -- eaten up

Frozen Berry Pie -- Angie didn't finish

or this . . .

5/29/11  Insells and Youngs

burger and hot dogs -- more adults ate hot dogs than expected

Are you beginning to see how useful this could be?  Can't remember what you took to your last church potluck or whether they liked it?  Look it up!  Can't remember whether you served this family burgers the last time they came over or not?  Look it up!  Thinking about cucumber salad for the Insells but seem to remember something about cucumbers for one of them?  Look it up!  Can't remember how long it's been since you hosted a certain group?  Look it up!  Can't recall what cookies you took to last year's cookie exchange?  Look it up! 

Of course, it doesn't have to be a pen and paper record.  There are much more techy ways to keep a record.  I'm just a pen and paper kind of gal. 

Also, today's the last day to tell me what you're thankful for and get entered into the drawing for the Thankfulness Journal.  Click here to visit the post and make your comment.